The demanding nature of caregiver often acts as a barrier to accessing in-person care services and programs. Many caregivers find it difficult to travel to and from in-person support and education programs. Additionally, many caregivers are uncomfortable leaving the care recipient home alone and/or are unable to find respite care. These difficulties are often intensified for rural carers. For example, compared to their urban counterparts, rural dementia caregivers typically know of fewer available services and specialty providers and must travel significantly farther to find services. Telehealth services, provided via video or phone, can reduce these barriers. The current study adapted an in-person educational intervention to teach dementia caregivers how to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms to telehealth, named TeleCARE. The intervention took place over 8 weeks, 1 hour a week, over Webex. Twenty-four mostly white (100%), female (76%), spousal (82%) caregivers with an average age of 72 (M = 71.8, SD = 12.6) completed the study. Seventy percent of caregivers had some type of difficulty using telehealth technology and we quickly realized personalized help was necessary to support intervention engagement. Over the 8 sessions, less support was needed with each passing session as caregivers became more fluent with using the technology. At week 8, none of the caregivers required technology assistance. By the end of the intervention, caregivers reported a sense of accomplishment and increased comfort with the technology. At 3-month follow-up, technology support was again required. This talk will focus on the lessons learned as they are broadly applicable to telehealth interventions for dementia caregivers.

Reducing cognitive decline is described as an important aspect of successful aging. VA supported Age Friendly Healthcare Systems focus on the 4Ms framework (What Matters Most, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility) to improve quality of care and care delivery for older Veterans. The Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education– Action Plan program (AgeWISE-AP) emphasizes the What Matters Most element of the 4Ms as we collaborate 1-1 with Veterans to identify individualized lifestyle goals that support positive brain health outcomes. AgeWISE-AP is comprised of two components: an initial 12-week group to educate participants on brain aging and health factors followed by 8 individual sessions supporting participants in the creation and implementation of client-centered goals within the domains of healthy brain aging (e.g. diet, exercise, personal development, socialization etc.) outlined in the Whole Health Circle of Brain Health. Led by a Brain Health Interventionist (BHI), AgeWISE-AP bridges the gap between education and action. Here we report on 36 participants, who completed a total of 282 individual sessions, making 120 lifestyle goals within the 8 domains of healthy brain aging. Using case examples, we will illustrate emerging trends regarding domain selection and goal creation for participants to date. Understanding broadly what matters most to Veterans (their “why”) as well as, more specifically, what personal interests, activities, or values drive them to consistently participate in lifestyle behavior changes for healthy brain aging (their “what”) is essential to the success of this intervention.

The role of lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and socialization in brain health outcomes has been widely acknowledged. The contribution of attitudes about aging as they specifically relate to brain health outcomes and engagement in lifestyle activities has been less of a focus. The Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education (AgeWISE) program is a 12-week, manualized group that provides older adults with psychoeducation about brain aging, lifestyle factors associated with successful brain aging, and strategies to compensate for age-related cognitive change. A randomized controlled pilot study of forty-nine older (mean age=73), mostly Caucasian (98%), cognitively normal male Veterans revealed increases in memory contentment and sense of control over memory decline for AgeWISE participants. AgeWISE-Action Plan (AgeWISE-AP) is an expansion program developed to capitalize on and extend AgeWISE gains in memory controllability. To date, sixty-three older Veterans have been enrolled in AgeWISE-AP as part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial, with excellent (95%) retention in the intervention arm. AgeWISE has been adapted across settings (geriatric inpatient, synchronous telehealth), populations (non-VA, mild cognitive impairment), and cultures (non-US). We will describe AgeWISE and AgeWISE-AP, with a focus on the highly adaptable AgeWISE program, to illustrate how brain health programs can be implemented in clinical settings.

Assessment of day-to-day function is critical to prevent losses due to dementia, with observation of a day-to-day task such as toothbrushing being the gold standard. Patients with dementia (PWD) face barriers to such an assessment. In-home video telehealth may increase access, but the feasibility of its use to observe PWD completing day-to-day tasks has not been demonstrated. This project describes the process of selecting specific functional task assessments feasible for adaptation to video telehealth delivery to PWD. We sent ten subject matter experts (SMEs) from fields of occupational therapy, social work, geriatrics, neuropsychology, and nursing a list of 20 day-to-day tasks, such as toothbrushing and medication management, sourced from standardized and non-standardized tools. SMEs rated the feasibility of assessing tasks over video using 5-point Likert scales on domains of clinical importance, privacy and safety concerns, time to administer, and overall feasibility. The most feasible tasks for video administration were pouring a drink, washing hands, cleaning a counter, and toothbrushing. The least feasible tasks were meal preparation, tub/shower mobility, and toilet mobility. The tasks with the highest perceived clinical importance were medication management, tub/shower mobility, and home safety. Tasks with the most privacy and safety concerns involved more intimate activities: tub/shower mobility, toilet mobility, and dressing. Determining the feasibility of video assessment of day-to-day tasks involves weighing several complex factors. Understanding clinician perspectives of which tasks are amenable to video assessment will facilitate the adaptation of assessment processes to remote administration for PWD, thereby increasing access to care.

Caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) face many care challenges including the need to provide increasing support to PLWD day-to-day needs as the disease progresses. Caregivers’ management of PLWD health care is an acknowledged aspect of their role, and includes scheduling appointments, managing medications, and communicating with clinicians. Yet little is known about the full scope of that support particularly in the realm of attending health care visits with PLWD. This study presents factors associated with attending health care visits with PLWD. Factors were identified by caregivers of PLWD residing in the community during semi-structured qualitative interviews (N = 24). Content analysis of interview data revealed three categories related to the experience of attending health care visits with PLWD: 1) Preparing for the Visit, 2) Visit-Related Time and Travel, and, 3) In-visit Experience, highlighting associated barriers and facilitators within each category. Barrier statements generally reflected the negative impact of cognitive impairment, such as PLWD anxiety, confusion, and repetitive questioning about the purpose of the visit, at times well in advance of the visit. Facilitators statements generally reflected the benefit of attending visits as opportunities for social participation and providing caregivers an opportunity to engage with care teams. Taken together, these factors elucidate the experience of taking PLWD to health care visits from the perspectives of caregivers, highlighting opportunities to mitigate more negative aspects of that experience.

Behavioral activation (BA) is an evidence-based psychotherapy for depression that also shows promise as a transdiagnostic intervention to support functioning. We adapted a brief BA protocol to improve physical, cognitive, and social functioning in older Veterans at risk for decline. In this study, we conducted an open pilot to assess acceptability of the adapted intervention among 10 older (age ≥65) Veterans at risk for functional decline (Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 score ≥3). Participants completed a 6-session telehealth-delivered BA intervention, baseline and post-intervention assessments, and a semi-structured interview based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Interviews were analyzed by two researchers using rapid qualitative analysis. Participants had a mean age of 79.6 years (range 69-88) and 80% were male. Nine participants completed all 6 intervention sessions and follow-up assessments; one withdrew after the second session. Mean satisfaction on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) was 26.9±3.7 (on a scale of 8-32). Participants found the telehealth format convenient and the length and frequency appropriate. The content was highly aligned with participants’ values and what mattered most to them. While most participants found value in tracking their activities, others found it tedious and recommended simplifying the process. The intervention helped participants stay organized, set goals, and break tasks into parts; increased their motivation and helped them refocus on valued activities; and provided them with skills they will continue to use to support activity engagement. Our study suggests that a brief telehealth-delivered BA intervention for functioning is acceptable, values-aligned, and perceived as effective among older Veterans.

BackgroundAbout 11 million Americans are caregivers for the 6.7 million Americans currently living with dementia. They provide over 18 billion hours of unpaid care per year, yet most have no formal dementia education or support. It is extremely difficult for clinicians to keep up with the demand for caregiver education, especially as dementia is neurodegenerative in nature, requiring different information at different stages of the disease process. In this digital age, caregivers often seek dementia information on the internet, but clinicians lack a single, reliable compendium of expert-approved digital resources to provide to dementia caregivers. ObjectiveOur aim was to create a dementia caregiver resources website to serve as a hub for user-friendly, high-quality, and expert-reviewed dementia educational resources that clinicians can easily supply to family caregivers of people with dementia. MethodsAn interdisciplinary website development team (representing dementia experts from occupational therapy, nursing, social work, geriatrics, and neurology) went through 6 iterative steps of website development to ensure resource selection quality and eligibility rigor. Steps included (1) resource collection, (2) creation of eligibility criteria, (3) resource organization by topic, (4) additional content identification, (5) finalize resource selection, and (6) website testing and launch. Website visits were tracked, and a 20-item survey about website usability and utility was sent to Veterans Affairs tele-geriatrics interdisciplinary specialty care groups. ResultsFollowing website development, the dementia caregiver resource website was launched in February 2022. Over the first 9 months, the site averaged 1100 visits per month. The 3 subcategories with the highest number of visits were “general dementia information,” “activities of daily living,” and “self-care and support.” Most (44/45, 98%) respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the website was easy to navigate, and all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the resources were useful. ConclusionsThe iterative process of creating the dementia caregiver resources website included continuous identification, categorization, and prioritization of resources, followed by clinician feedback on website usability, accessibility, and suggestions for improvement. The website received thousands of visits and positive clinician reviews in its first 9 months. Results demonstrate that an expert-vetted, nationally, and remotely available resource website allows for easy access to dementia education for clinicians to provide for their patients and caregivers. This process of website development can serve as a model for other clinical subspecialty groups seeking to create a comprehensive educational resource for populations who lack easy access to specialty care.

To provide a single source of reliable, vetted dementia education resources available to all dementia caregivers.

Abstract Healthy brain aging and reducing the risk of dementia is important to older adults. The Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education program (AgeWISE) provides group education (12 sessions) on lifestyle factors and techniques to manage age-related cognitive change. Participants who completed AgeWISE reported feeling that they had more control over their brain health, but many requested additional supports to help them make lifestyle changes important to them. We added an 8-session one-on-one action plan component to the AgeWISE program (AgeWISE-AP) to help participants make personalized lifestyle modifications that support healthy brain aging. AgeWISE-AP utilizes a Brain Health Interventionist (BHI) to guide participants in the creation and implementation of individualized, client-centered goals while adhering to a manualized scaffolding. Fifteen participants have engaged in AgeWISE-AP to date. We will provide case examples illustrating the flexibility required from the BHI to manage individual needs in goal setting, adapt goals as needed, and successfully guide participants in behavior change within a manualized program. The AgeWISE-AP program requires the BHI to have strong clinical skills and content-specific training to support goal setting and implementation that is client-centered while also ensuring the sessions are operating within the structure of the manualized program. Walking this fine line is imperative for the success of the program as well as for its replicability in other settings.

The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent protective measures, including quarantines reduced or eliminated access to supports for dementia CGs. Dementia CGs have also reported increases in behavioral problems and decreases in cognition for the person with dementia (PWD) during the pandemic. We collected data on the impact of COVID-19 on dementia CGs. CGs of PWD enrolled in a telehealth intervention were interviewed via video. At baseline, CGs completed The Caregiver COVID-19 Limitations Scale. During interviews, CGs responses to questions about COVID-19 related concerns and spontaneous discussion of concerns were recorded in field notes. Most CGs had a low level of concern that they would contract COVID-19, but a slightly higher level of concern about the PWD. Several CGs reported at least a moderate impact of COVID-19 related limitations on getting respite care (37.5%), leaving the house (50%), having outside visitors (25%), and gaining access to healthcare (25%). A quarter of CGs noticed at least a moderate change in the PWDs behavior. CGs also noticed cognitive decline. CGs felt changes were due to isolation, boredom, and depressive-like symptoms. Caregivers also noted the loss of pleasurable activities they could engage in both alone and together with the PWD. A quarter of CGs also reported a great deal of difficulty explaining COVID-19 related restrictions to the PWD. Specifically, memory loss experienced by the PWD necessitated frequent reminders about COVID-19 and related limitation Our results are consistent with literature demonstrating reduction in CG access to respite care and other supportive services during the pandemic. CGs noted declines in cognition and increases in neuropsychiatric symptoms in the PWD perceived to be due to isolation and lack of stimulation. CGs lacked access to previously enjoyable activities outside the home. CG noted the additional burden of lack of a shared pandemic experience due to memory loss that necessitated reminders about the pandemic and associated safety measures. In conclusion, dementia caregivers grapple with lost supports that increase burden, with simultaneously increases in perceived cognitive and behavioral problems in the PWD along with new pandemic-specific burdens. Our findings underscore the necessity for increased dementia CG programming.

Negative outcomes associated with caring for a loved one with ADRD include increases in caregiver depression, anxiety, and burden often due to managing neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). CARE is an in-person, group-based behavioral intervention that teaches caregivers specific skills to manage the NPS that are common in ADRD. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were funded to adapt the CARE program to a virtual format (TeleCARE) in order to improve access to specialized services for caregivers with barriers to in-person care. The impact of COVID-19 further underscored the importance of telehealth interventions for caregivers. Twenty caregivers participated in TeleCARE using the Cisco Webex platform. Caregivers were predominately female (80%), spouses (80%), ranging in age from 35-88 (M = 70.8). The CDR-Sum of Boxes was administered to measure dementia severity of the care recipients with a mean of 11.1 (moderate dementia). Data were collected at baseline and immediately following completion of the 8-week group intervention. Eighty-five percent of caregivers had a better understanding of NPS, and 90% of caregivers felt TeleCARE helped them take better care of the person with dementia and improved their ability to manage caregiving. Caregivers reported reduced depression and anxiety following the intervention (BDI: M = 9.6 vs M = 7.8; BAI: M = 8.7 vs. M = 6.8). They also reported increases in Positive Aspects of Caregiving (M = 33.2 vs. M = 35.3) and Meaning and Purpose in Life (M = 53.7 vs. M = 55.3). They reported little reduction in distress related specifically to NPS (M = 20.3 vs. M = 19.7). The TeleCARE adaptation was successful, with caregivers reporting improvements in understanding of NPS, caregiver depression and anxiety, ability to care for their loved one, and management of caregiving tasks. Even with the return to in-person care options after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nature of dementia caregiving often does not allow caregivers to easily leave home to join in-person programs. Geographical distance, time, and money spent finding care for loved ones can be barriers to participation. Our results suggest TeleCARE may serve as an effective option to increase access to group caregiver education and support.

Introduction:Cognitive psychology posits that thinking about the future relies on memory such that those with memory impairment may have trouble imaging their future technology and other needs.Methods:We conducted a content analysis of qualitative data from interviews with six patients with MCI or early dementia regarding potential adaptations to a mobile telepresence robot. Using a matrix analysis approach, we explored perceptions of (1) what technology could help with day-to-day functioning in the present and future and (2) what technology may help people with memory problems or dementia stay home alone safely.Results:Very few participants could identify any technology to assist themselves or other people with memory problems and could not provide suggestions on what technology may help them stay home alone safely. Most perceived that they would never need robotic assistance.Discussion:These findings suggest individuals with MCI or early dementia have limited perspectives on their own functional abilities now and in the future. Consideration of the individuals' diminished understanding of their own future illness trajectory is crucial when engaging in research or considering novel technological management solutions and may have implications for other aspects of advanced care planning.

TeleCARE improved the understanding of NPS and the ability to care for the PWD and manage caregiving demands. Reductions were seen in depression, anxiety, and distress related to NPS immediately following the intervention. Reductions in depression and anxiety were not maintained at 3-months, but caregivers showed further reductions in distress related to NPS, suggesting that the targeted NPS intervention had sustained targeted outcomes (distress related specifically to NPS), perhaps resulting from improved understanding of NPS and continued application of taught skills. Adding booster sessions may help sustain reductions in depression and anxiety.

BACKGROUND:Telemedicine has recently become a part of mainstream clinical practice. Many curricula have been developed to teach general and specialty-specific video telemedicine skills; however, a lack of defined best practices for translating comprehensive interprofessional geriatric care to the virtual setting presents a unique challenge to educators and clinicians. This manuscript introduces and describes the development of competencies for video telemedicine with older adults for all health professionals who treat them.METHODS:A modified Delphi process was used in competency development. In 2019, interprofessional clinicians and educators who had expertise in telemedicine formed a competency development workgroup. The aim was to draft competencies for interprofessional video telemedicine with older adults while not duplicating existing competencies in geriatrics, interprofessional care, or general telemedicine. Draft competencies were circulated among experts in geriatric telemedicine and geriatric education for two rounds of comments. The competencies incorporated comments from 41 clinicians representing 7 professions.RESULTS:Twenty-three competencies were created spanning six domains. A temporal organization by domain was used: (1) Overarching considerations, (2) Pre-visit preparation, (3) Beginning of the visit, (4) History taking and communication during the visit, (5) Exam during the visit (organized by the 5Ms: Mind, Mobility, Medication, Multicomplexity, and Matters Most), and (6) Post-visit coordination.CONCLUSIONS:These newly developed competencies fill a gap left by those developed for specific disciplines or that do not address considerations for older adults. They lay the groundwork for curriculum development and the development of virtual Age-Friendly care.

Abstract Older adults’ relative lack of technological literacy is a barrier to telemedicine, including participation in virtual caregiver support programs. Details of technology assistance required before and during a virtual, seven-session group skills training program for family caregivers were recorded. A majority of participants, all older adults, had difficulty using videoconferencing technology that ranged from finding meeting links in emails to difficulty with basic device use. Personalized support was provided to each caregiver as needed. None required any support by the final session. Those with initial technology challenges felt a sense of accomplishment and increased tech comfort by the end of the sessions. While some older adults had difficulty using telemedicine technology, they were eager to learn and educable with personalized help. Infrastructure to provide this personalized help is necessary to support older adults’ desire to engage in telemedicine and to reduce the digital divide.

Background: Persons with dementia are generally older and often have multiple other chronic conditions, necessitating several healthcare visits each year. Most live in the community supported by unpaid family caregivers who often assist with healthcare management. Little is known about caregiver and person with dementia experience engaging with the healthcare system, which may be more complicated in the context of cognitive changes such as memory loss. Methods: This is a targeted subanalysis of a major code, experience of the healthcare system , which emerged from a qualitative study investigating perspectives of family caregivers ( N = 24) of community-dwelling persons with dementia about telemedicine. Results: Caregivers were asked to describe their experiences taking persons with dementia to medical visits. Caregivers' detailed descriptions of the process resulted in three categories related to their experience of the healthcare system: Preparing for Visits, Visit-Related Time and Travel, and In-Visit Experience. Categories revealed the complexity of dyads' participation in healthcare both in and around actual clinic visits. Findings also highlighted the often-negative impact of person with dementia cognitive symptoms on various stages of the process, which was partly offset by perceived benefits related to social participation and interactions with care teams. Conclusions: This study improves our understanding of the experience of engaging with the healthcare system for caregivers and persons with dementia. By explicating the complex factors involved with participating in healthcare visits outside the bounds of clinic walls, this study offers insights for clinicians and systems supporting persons with dementia and caregivers.

Objectives: Quality dementia care, which recognizes caregivers as vital care partners, is a scarce resource. Innovative solutions like video telehealth may increase the reach of extant clinicians; however, little is known about perceived barriers and facilitators to in-home video telehealth for dementia management from the perspectives of caregivers.Methods: Twenty-four caregivers of community-dwelling Veterans with dementia participated in semi-structured interviews. Questions gathered perceived facilitators and barriers to in-home video telehealth for dementia management through experience with related technology. Transcripts were analyzed using directed content analysis which was guided by factors previously identified as influencing older adults’ adoption of technology.Results: Caregiver experience with related technology was mostly facilitative to video telehealth, which was thought best suited for follow-up care. Increased access and decreased patient-caregiver stress were potential benefits. Barriers included perceived limitations of video and the belief that persons with dementia would have limited ability to manage technological aspects and to engage in video telehealth on their own.Conclusions: This study improves our understanding of the factors that caregivers perceive as barriers and facilitators to in-home video telehealth for dementia management.Clinical Implications: Strategies to optimize video telehealth include capitalizing on caregivers’ social network and providing targeted training.

Background By 2050, nearly 13 million Americans will have Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), with most of those with ADRD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) receiving home care. Mobile telepresence robots may allow persons with MCI or ADRD to remain living independently at home and ease the burden of caregiving. The goal of this study was to identify how an existing mobile telepresence robot can be enhanced to support at-home care of people with MCI or ADRD through key stakeholder input. Objective The specific aims were to assess what applications should be integrated into the robot to further support the independence of individuals with MCI or ADRD and understand stakeholders’ overall opinions about the robot. Methods We conducted in-person interviews with 21 stakeholders, including 6 people aged >50 years with MCI or ADRD living in the community, 9 family caregivers of people with MCI or ADRD, and 6 clinicians who work with the ADRD population. Interview questions about the robot focused on technology use, design and functionality, future applications to incorporate, and overall opinions. We conducted a thematic analysis of the data obtained and assessed the patterns within and across stakeholder groups using a matrix analysis technique. Results Overall, most stakeholders across groups felt positively about the robot’s ability to support individuals with MCI or ADRD and decrease caregiver burden. Most ADRD stakeholders felt that the greatest benefits would be receiving help in emergency cases and having fewer in-person visits to the doctor’s office. Caregivers and clinicians also noted that remote video communication with their family members using the robot was valuable. Adding voice commands and 1-touch lifesaving or help buttons to the robot were the top suggestions offered by the stakeholders. The 4 types of applications that were suggested included health-related alerts; reminders; smart-home–related applications; and social, entertainment, or well-being applications. Stakeholders across groups liked the robot’s mobility, size, interactive connection, and communication abilities. However, stakeholders raised concerns about their physical stability and size for individuals living in smaller, cluttered spaces; screen quality for those with visual impairments; and privacy or data security. Conclusions Although stakeholders generally expressed positive opinions about the robot, additional adaptations were suggested to strengthen functionality. Adding applications and making improvements to the design may help mitigate concerns and better support individuals with ADRD to live independently in the community. As the number of individuals living with ADRD in the United States increases, mobile telepresence robots are a promising way to support them and their caregivers. Engaging all 3 stakeholder groups in the development of these robots is a critical first step in ensuring that the technology matches their needs. Integrating the feedback obtained from our stakeholders and evaluating their effectiveness will be important next steps in adapting telepresence robots.

The 2020 National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers identified the need for person-centered dementia care throughout the care continuum. Challenges include adapting health care to meet the complex needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers across a variety of settings.To understand dementia caregivers' experience of the health care system, we conducted qualitative interviews with twenty-four middle-to-older age caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis whereby the coding team sought to identify barriers and facilitators to person-centered dementia care.We identified three categories and associated sub-categories related to caregiver experience: 1) Preparing for the Visit, with sub-categories Physical Challenges and Emotional Preparation; 2) Visit-Related Time and Travel, with sub-categories General Travel Challenges, Physical Limitations, Cognitive Limitations, and Benefits; and, 3) In-visit Experience, with sub-categories Physical Challenges and Emotional Preparation. Preparing for visit statements revealed barriers, such as patient resistance to attending visits due to not understanding the need. Visit-related time and travel statements reflected a balance of challenges and facilitators, including general challenges such as traffic and dementia-specific challenges such as patient agitation around visit wait times. Facilitators reflected the benefit of visits as opportunities for social participation. In-visit experience statements reflected a mix of challenges and facilitators. Challenges included person with dementia difficulty participating in the health care visit due to poor insight and inability to answer questions, while facilitators included caregivers' positive engagement with the care team. Across categories, caregivers assumed high-level responsibility to accommodate for person with dementia physical and cognitive challenges.Categories underscore the complexity of health care management for a person with dementia both in and around actual clinic appointments, highlighting both challenges related to person with dementia cognitive deficits and perceived benefits related to visits as opportunities for social participation and accessing resources. This study offers relevant insights about tailoring health care to accommodate for person with dementia deficits while supporting their caregivers.

OBJECTIVES:COVID-19 negatively affected older adults' well-being and quality of life, particularly individuals with dementia. My Life, My Story (MLMS) was developed at Veterans Health Administration as an opportunity for Veterans to interact and share life stories using guided interviews. This paper describes a program evaluation of MLMS delivered to Veterans with cognitive concerns and their caregivers using telehealth technology during COVID-19.METHODS:Fourteen Veteran-caregiver dyads completed MLMS interviews with occupational therapy trainees using telehealth technology. Most (10 of 14) participating Veterans had mild-to-moderate dementia. Trainees ascertained Veteran and caregiver demographics such as age and recent cognitive evaluation scores via chart review. Trainees also gathered Veteran-caregiver technology and interview experience through post-interview program evaluation questionnaires.RESULTS:Dyads reported generally positive interview and technological experience, despite technological glitches occurring in most (approximately 70%) interviews. Caregivers assisted with videoconferencing setup and participated in ten interviews.CONCLUSIONS:Veterans with cognitive concerns successfully participated in virtual MLMS interviews during COVID-19. Caregivers enhanced Veteran engagement and often provided technological support.CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:Telehealth technology enabled participation in My Life, My Story by individuals with cognitive concerns and their caregivers. Post pandemic, clinicians may consider integrating telehealth technology with patients facing access challenges.